Acts 4

Matthew 16:18 “And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” and

John 17:15 ESV

I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one.

English Standard Version Chapter 4

And as they were speaking to the people, the priests and the captain of the temple and the Sadducees came upon them, 2 greatly annoyed because they were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection from the dead. 3 And they arrested them and put them in custody until the next day, for it was already evening. 4 But many of those who had heard the word believed, and the number of the men came to about five thousand.

The Church is growing rapidly. The Lord has been preparing His people for centuries to recognize His only Son, Jesus of Nazareth, and the time has finally arrived for people to be reconciled fully to their Creator through Jesus and through His sacrifice. Nothing can stop it, for the Lord has determined that the Gospel will go to the ends of the Earth, before the Lord comes again in power and glory.

The gates of Hell rise up against the church. Some people like to think of the Book of Acts as the continued ‘Acts of the Holy Spirit’ but it would be just as accurate to describe it as the continued ‘Acts of Satan’ in opposition to the Church.

Jesus’ prayer specifically was that when that happened- when the world attempts to destroy the Church- that His people would not flee to the hills or to cultic communities out in the desert with no one around them, but that they would be in the world, surrounded by people who do not know Jesus, but at the same time they would be safe from the evil one.

What does that look like? To be in a world that is hostile to the Gospel, which our culture increasingly is, but to be safe from evil?

If you think about it, that is quite a trick to pull off. Consider the Essenes for example. They were a religious community that was in existence around the time of Christ. They had rejected the Temple, the priesthood, and all the centers of spiritual and civil power in Israel. They set up their own individual autonomous community out in the desert and lived accordingly, separate from everyone else. If you wanted to join their community their was a long and arduous testing and training period. And so they survived by staying separate and keeping strict barriers to the outside world.

Compare this to Peter and John who are proclaiming the Risen Christ right at the heart of power, directly in front of the Temple in a way that not only challenges the power of the priesthood, but also of Rome. So how did the Church survive, much less flourish? This miracle and subsequent trial tells us a good deal about how the Lord protects His Church then and still so today.

English Standard Version Chapter 4

5 On the next day their rulers and elders and scribes gathered together in Jerusalem, 6 with Annas the high priest and Caiaphas and John and Alexander, and all who were of the high-priestly family. 7 And when they had set them in the midst, they inquired, “By what power or by what name did you do this?” 8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers of the people and elders, 9 if we are being examined today concerning a good deed done to a crippled man, by what means this man has been healed, 10 let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead—by him this man is standing before you well. 11 This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone. 12 And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no ot her name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”

I love this speech. There is so much goodness here for us to emulate- this is the Holy Spirit making a Galilean fisherman into a man of wisdom and love.

We take so much for granted when the Bible becomes too familiar. Let’s try together to make it unfamiliar again so we can be reminded of how surprising the Church really is, how unlike the world.

Let’s start with the beginning. “Rulers of the people and elders”. Is Peter disrespecting their office? No. He acknowledges their power and their authority. He addresses them with respect. Do you know what the primary theme of Peter’s first letter to the Church is- the letter of 1 Peter? The primary theme of that letter is submission to authority, first to the Lord, to be sure, but second to all human authority.

Would an Essene from Qumran said that to the high priest- No! They would have said you are not proper rulers, you are not the high priest, all of you are heretics and terrible sinners and not worthy of my respect. That is what they likely would have said.

Not so Peter. Not so the church. Why is that? The people standing in front of Peter literally gave the order to kill Jesus only weeks ago.

The New Testament is unambiguous in its stance on this. Whether it is Jesus teaching about going the extra mile for someone who asks you to go one mile, or if it’s Paul’s Romans 13 exhortation to not disobey the civil authorities it is always the same. Respect and pray for those who are in power. And the Church always should respect and pray for those who are in power and be obedient to them right up to the point where you are told to do something that violates God’s Law, God’s mercy, God’s love, God’s Kingdom. And even then we are not given carte blanche to thumb our nose at authority and speak cynically about people in power. No, we simply do not do the thing we are told to do.

Why are we called to this? For a few reasons, Biblically speaking, but I will focus on only one here: Because we are showing a different way of being than the world shows. The world worships power and might. But we worship Jesus Christ. Who indeed is God and knows power of a kind we cannot imagine but who modeled for us here on Earth both humility and weakness, and the accomplishment of God’s will on Earth through trust and faith, not power. Or at least, not our own power. If we start to get in a tug of war with the authorities of this world, trying to push against their power by making the church powerful, then we cease to be unique. We no longer appear to be trusting the Lord and His power. We no longer are set apart as holy, but are just another worldly organization trying to have worldly power.

English Standard Version Chapter 2

21 For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. 22 He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. 23 When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly.

We may find ourselves at the mercy of others in power. We may be in power ourselves over others. Either way, we follow the path of Christ. When we are demeaned or insulted we do not demean or insult in turn. When we are made to suffer we do not seek revenge or seek to make others suffer in turn. We trust ourselves to our heavenly Creator who alone is our judge, and we trust others to His sovereign judgment as well.

Peter is putting into action what Jesus has placed in his heart through His Holy Spirit.

English Standard Version Chapter 4

if we are being examined today concerning a good deed done to a crippled man,

Now it stands to reason that in a sinful and angry world that the Church will be called to task at times. We will at times get into trouble. But it matters very much what it is that we get into trouble for.

Good deeds is what should land us in hot water. And believe me, Church, nothing will provoke the ire of this generation more quickly than trying to do righteous and loving deeds. Do you want people to say terrible things about you? Do you want your motivations and your character questioned constantly? Then go start a homeless ministry. You will make enemies faster than you can say how will we raise funds. Start a church with no other motivation than to bless people and grow God’s Kingdom. A Church with voluntary membership and a mission to show people the love of God and to make disciples. See how fast you get into trouble.

Good deeds. It’s the Church’s best armor and it’s best conversation starter when good deeds are done with genuine love.

How did the Church survive this moment? The entire Church is in Jerusalem at this time. They aren’t hiding, in fact they are preaching the Gospel publicly. Why didn’t the Jewish authorities, in tandem with the Romans, just kill them all- just like they killed Jesus?

Good deeds can protect the Church. Do good works. This is also from Peter’s playbook. In 1 Peter 3:13-14 Peter writes

[1Pe 3:13-14 ESV] 13 Now who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good? 14 But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled,

All of Jerusalem was celebrating this incredible work of power and compassion in this man’s healing. A good deed had been done

And now Peter gives them the Gospel:

English Standard Version Chapter 4

10 let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead—by him this man is standing before you well. 11 This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone. 12 And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”

Think about this. Peter is standing, among others, in front of Annas and Caiaphas. Annas is actually the Father in Law of Caiaphas and was the first to question Jesus before he sent Jesus to Caiaphas who accused Jesus of blasphemy and had Him sent to the Romans for crucifixion. And Jesus did not insult them or demean them either. And they had Him killed, which, so they thought I am sure, would end this strange little community.

But here is Jesus’ disciple. Saying that only by giving their life to the man they had killed just a couple months ago, only by doing that can THEY be saved. How strange is this moment for them? How surreal.

No wonder the next sentence is

English Standard Version Chapter 4

Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished. And they recognized that they had been with Jesus. 14 But seeing the man who was healed standing beside them, they had nothing to say in opposition.

It is very hard to oppose a healing, a good deed, that the whole city has been made aware of, without looking bad. A good church should be irritating. Irritatingly holy. Annoyingly good. Frustratingly focused on Jesus Christ no matter how much people try to shift our center to something else. And at the same time it should be nearly impossible to come at us, because of all the good deeds we are doing in the name of Jesus Christ. And we do them not out of obligation or out of reluctant obedience, but we do our good deeds out of love, because the Lord has made our hearts soft, as it says in Ezekiel 36 he has traded our hearts of stone for a heart of flesh. When Peter told the paralyzed man to look at him and John, to make eye contact, you know that he was giving that man dignity and when he said I don’t have the things that you think you need but I have something far better, even better than physical healing, you know that compassion was in his heart, gifted to him by the Holy Spirit.

People are frequently angry with me. People are regularly frustrated with me. Maybe some of you have these experiences too as you try and follow Jesus. It’s a constant reminder of how Satan really is the master of this world when you try and commit your life to peaceably blessing other people and trying to share the Gospel and what you get back is vitriol.

You recall the scene in the original Karate Kid where Mr. Miyagi teaches the kid this special kick for which, apparently, there is no defense against. And it takes the kid a long time but eventually he masters it and uses it to kick the butt of the bully at the end of the film.

Well we have such a special kick. We Christians have a move against which there is no defense. And that is the love of God. We come to the world holding the love of God in our hearts. Yes, we are imperfect vessels. Jars of Clay that occasionally leak and break and are rough around the edges, but nevertheless, it is our superpower. When the world comes at you with anger and resentment or suspicion, don’t try and defend yourself overly much. Don’t try and explain what it is you believe unless they are asking or you feel the Lord is prompting you to be bold in that way, but generally, the first thing is to try and love that person.

I wish I could go back and redo a bunch of conversations that I had when I was younger. I wish I could go back and say, and mean it, you know I am sorry if you are angry with me for what I believe. Truly, I wish it were not so; I don’t enjoy making people angry. But my faith tells me that you are a precious child of God made in His image, and the life and death of Jesus teach me that you are worth dying for. And if it came to it and your life was in danger and I could save it with my own I would do so if I could, if my nerve did not fail me in that moment but because I would hope that that would show you what Christ has already done for you, and how He is calling you to a new life with Him, a life of joyful obedience.

This is what love looks like. Laying down our lives for others. And it is the Lord Himself who taught us that, laying down His life for ours.

That gentleman who I was going to debate those years ago. The main difference between us? He was motivated by anger. I was motivated by love. An imperfect love to be sure of an imperfect disciple, but we do not hate atheists. We do not hate at all.

We sing together sometimes these words from ‘Orphan Train’:

Here princes, paupers, criminals

And saints are all the same

No more or less than God’s beloved

Child aboard this train

We stand not in judgment of one another, nor of our atheist brothers and sisters, fathers and mothers. We do not hate or judge. How could we judge those who do not know the Lord or His ways?

We ask everyone in the Church to be perfect. We do. I am not content with you being a sinner. If you are a thief we will tell you to stop stealing. If you are having sex outside of marriage we will tell you to be chaste. If you are pursuing money at the expense of everything else in your life we will tell you to stop being an idolater. We will call you to be perfect. And forgive you when you fail, just like your pastor and your deacons and all the other brothers and sisters in Christ will fail at times.

Which raises the question, how many times can I fail and be forgiven?

English Standard Version Chapter 4

15 But when they had commanded them to leave the council, they conferred with one another, 16 saying, “What shall we do with these men? For that a notable sign has been performed through them is evident to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it. 17 But in order that it may spread no further among the people, let us warn them to speak no more to anyone in this name.” 18 So they called them and charged them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. 19 But Peter and John answered them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge, 20 for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard.” 21 And when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding no way to punish them, because of the people, for all were praising God for what had happened. 22 For the man on whom this sign of healing was performed was more than forty years old.

The Church survives. Why? Because the people were praising God for what God had done. And the leaders of Jerusalem had no weapon that could crush that.

A couple things to note here. Everyone was praising God for the healing. But that does not mean that everyone gave their life to Christ and became a Christian. People might see what the Church is doing and praise God for it, be grateful for it. Sometimes people like what they see in the Church so much they even come into the Church and explore it, check it out. Which is what we want. That is a good thing. Nothing makes me happier than when someone comes to church whom I know is not a Christian.

And sometimes they WILL hear the Gospel and become a Christian. But more often, they hear the Gospel and are turned away because of it. It is offensive. It is.

My point is this: People do NOT become Christians because of good works. People do not give their life to Christ because they like the Church. People do not see a miracle and then give their life to Christ. Good works and miracles are attention getters, conversation starters, and signs of where the heart of God is, and also, as mentioned before, the armor of the Church.

An unbelievable miracle had transpired at the Temple. But that is not what brought people to Christ. Listen again to how some people became Christians on that day:

English Standard Version Chapter 4

And as they were speaking to the people, the priests and the captain of the temple and the Sadducees came upon them, 2 greatly annoyed because they were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection from the dead. 3 And they arrested them and put them in custody until the next day, for it was already evening. 4 But many of those

They heard the Word of God. The man or woman whom the Lord is calling is not content to simply praise the good works of God. The man or woman who has heaven set in their heart is hungry to hear the Gospel, even if they don’t know where to go with that hunger.

Peter and John, through the Holy Spirit, healed a man. That got people’s attention and saved the Church from the civil authorities. But that miracle did not save anyone. It was Jesus Christ being preached and accepted that brought salvation to many on that day.

Some people will see God at work and say that’s a good thing, but they want no part of giving their life to God. Some people, like Caiaphas and Annas, are so enamored with this world and their own power that it does not even occur to them to look for God.

Think about what they said- A notable sign has been performed through them-it is evident and we cannot deny it- and then they go on to think how they can counteract its impact.

They literally do not even stop to THINK about what it might mean if the Lord is using Peter and John to do these things. It does not even occur to them that they might be betraying the very God they purport to serve. And that is not surprising. Miracles cannot save a hardened heart.

[Mat 11:20-21 ESV] 20 Then he began to denounce the cities where most of his mighty works had been done, because they did not repent. 21 “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes.

Some will hear the Gospel. Most will not. But we will continue to do good works, we will continue to ask God to intervene miraculously in people’s lives. We will continue to love with hearts of flesh and, Lord, may our labor in your fields bear good fruit, and may our friends and neighbors and co workers and all whom we know, be drawn to You through our love and service.